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Entries by Keith Erwood (244)

Monday
Mar082010

Chilean Earthquake Caused Entire City to Move 10 Feet From its Previous Location 

According to an article published today on Wired.com the Chilean city of Concepcion shifted 10 feet to the West of its previous location.

The movement was tracked by GPS sensors along with analysis from Ohio State scientist Mike Bevis who has been using the system to record crust movements in Chile since 1993.

According to the article other cities also shifted, including Buenos Aires which moved an inch and is located approximately 800 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake.

For the full article with illustrations please see refrences below.

 

 

Monday
Mar082010

Disaster Tip of the Week: Don’t Forget to Incorporate Sanitation into Your Disaster Preparation

Let's face it, sanitation is one of those subjects we are never likely to discuss during our daily conversations. It is also something we take for granted, since we typically never have to worry about it. Even when it does become an issue, we just pick up the phone and call out friendly local plumber.

Yet during a disaster it is something that becomes very important. Where are you going to go? Is water available to flush? Will you be taking precious potable water for your sanitation purposes? Can you keep it away from your food supplies? What about the smell?

Again, not the most pleasant subject matter, but extremely important since this is something if not done properly can quickly spread disease compounding an already difficult situation.

Another important factor to consider is how many people you have, especially if you are in the workplace or anywhere you have a large number of people. For instance a good rule of thumb is one portable toilet for every seventy-five occupants.

If you are in a location such as your home, or small office and you do not have enough water to both sustain your daily water intake needs and your sanitation needs consider setting up the following type system.

Convert a 5 gallon bucket fitted with toilet lid. Use heavy duty garbage bags and double bag for each use. After using, if available add a chemical agent to both reduce smells and aid in braking down the waste to the bag, and close the bags to avoid spillage. Remove tha bags and place them into either a metal (preferred) garbage can with tight fitting lid or a heavy duty plastic barrel with a tight fitting lid. This will keep the smell levels low, and reduce insect and rodent issues.

Clearly mark the garbage cans human waste so that anyone tasked with removal can readily identify them without having to open the containers.

If you are in a workplace environment, or apartment complex they should as part of their contingency planning have a vendor lined up to bring portable sanitation in, and provide for its removal. This should be done ahead of time so that it makes for fast and easy response from the vendor.

One last thing. Make sure you get all these supplies and vendors lined up ahead of time, otherwise it will be too late if you need them and don't have them if a disaster strikes.

Sunday
Mar072010

Has Iran Revealed Its Desire To obtain Nuclear Weapons At Any Cost With the Release of a Book Written by Ayatollah Mezbah Yazdi

Many are convinced that Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, myself included. Though Iran has denied that and state they are only developing technology to harness nuclear power for peaceful purposes. 

With the release of a book written by Ayatollah Mezbah Yazdi, a senior Iranian theological figure and President Ahmadinejad’s spiritual mentor in which he wrote: "Iran must independently produce 'the certain special kind of weapon' already in the hands of other countries."

The book was published in 2005 and gives some stunning insights and disclosure into how the Iranian leaders are pursuing nuclear weapons.

If you're still not yet convinced here are some quotes from the book:

"We have to produce the most advanced weapon inside the country, even if our enemies don't like it. There is no reason that they have the right to produce a certain special type of weapon, but that other countries not have that right" (The Islamic Revolution - Surges in Political Changes in History, p. 337).

"In seeking to acquire the [necessary] technology Iran must be patient and not be deterred by economic shortages: Divine, messianic support has been the determining factor in the success of the Iranian regime during the various trying periods which have plagued it since its foundation...We cannot be broken because of temporary difficulties, they will pass, and Muslims must be patient and not be deterred by material or economic shortages, because if they do, it may lead them to be separated from [Islam]."

 For more information on this story please visit ThreatsWatch.org and Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center

Tuesday
Mar022010

Ex-CIA Director Says Iran "Hell-Bent" On Getting Nuclear Weapon

In a recent article in which Newsmax interviewed Ex-CIA Director Hayden, he stated his worries about Iran developing a nuclear weapon.

Hayden, also stated that Iran seems "hell-bent" on obtaining the weapon. He goes on to say that this really worries him, and could destabilize the entire region.

Below is a video excerpt of the interview.

Monday
Mar012010

Hazmat Crew Responds to Utah IRS Office

A suspicious substance was found at an IRS office in Ogden, Utah prompting a response from local Hazmat teams.

Two people were taken to the hospital in allegedly unrelated medical emergencies.

At this time no word on what the substance is, no other details about the event are available.

UPDATE: Substance found at Utah site not Hazardous. No Word as to what the substance was.